DESPITE being the first to sit tough new A-level courses for 13 core subjects, students at five state and public schools in south west Surrey have been celebrating tip top results.

Unlike in previous years, where candidates were assessed on coursework and exams, this year’s students were graded solely on their exam performance at the very end of two-year courses.

Overall, the figures showed 8.8 per cent of boys were awarded an A*, the highest grade, compared to 7.8 per cent of girls, meaning boys have overtaken girls in achieving top A-level grades for the first time in 17 years.

GODALMING College students maintained an outstanding level of performance at A-level.

Of the 2,397 entries at A-level and 320 BTEC entries, the A-level pass rate was 99.2 per cent; the A*-C grade rate was 81 per cent; 28 per cent of the total A-level entries achieved A* or A grade and 28 subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.

The BTEC pass rate was 100 per cent, with 92 per cent of entries gaining distinction or merit.

A total of 61 students achieved A* and A grades in all of their subjects.

College principal Emma Young said: “Once again Godalming students have performed at the highest levels.

“The results are excellent and exceed national benchmarks.

“We had 2,397 entries at A-level and well over half of these were at A*-B. Our BTEC results are also superb and have improved on last year.

“These results are all achieved in the context of inclusive entry requirements.

“This has been the first set of results in a number of subjects that have been reformed at A-level. The consistency of our performance is testament to the dedication and expertise of our teachers who have worked really hard to ensure that the students were fully prepared for their exams.

“These results clearly provide a strong foundation for students to progress onto their next step, whether that be university, an apprenticeship or employment.

“Well done to all of our brilliant students and we wish them all the very best for the future.”

The Royal School also significantly exceeded the national average with almost 25per cent of students achieving straight A* or A grades.

Five students achieved straights A*/As including the head girl who got four As. They will go on to study neuroscience, physics, mathematics and economics and chemistry at Russell Group universities.

A total of 100 per cent of students achieved A* to C grades in accounting, biology, Chinese, drama, English literature, further maths, geography, history, Japanese, media, music, photography, psychology, Spanish, textiles and general studies.

Overall, 41.7 per cent, up from 40 per cent 2016, were graded A*-A compared to a national average of 26.3 per cent, and 70.8 per cent, up from 64.2 per cent 2016, were graded A*-B compared to a national average of 53.1 per cent.

Royal principal Anne Lynch said: “We are absolutely delighted with these results and very proud of our students and their teachers.

“These results represent many years of hard work and it is very rewarding to see students achieving the excellent outcomes that they deserve.

“The Royal School has been greatly praised by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate for the breadth and vibrancy of its curriculum. It is excellent that students have achieved so well in such a broad range of subjects and that they will go on to study such a wide variety of courses at prestigious universities.”

KING Edward’s Witley reintroduced A-levels alongside its established and highly successful International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, and 18 students celebrated impressive results.

Headmaster John Attwater said: “Their results reward a lot of hard work by staff and students and fully justify the decision to bring back A-levels to complement the IB.

“I am particularly delighted their success really reflects the diversity of pupils here and the range of exciting futures in store for them from the sciences and maths to the arts and business.

“Habib Saliani, from Iran, whose five A-levels include an A*, three As and a B, has a place to read pharmacology at Bristol.

“Edmund Gleave, from Godalming, has achieved an A in art to secure his place at Central St Martin’s, and Ayhan Mammadbayli, from Azerbaijan, gained an A* and two As and a place at City University to read finance and accounting.

“Those, of course are in addition to Amber Standish’s place at Cambridge, Will Kriehn’s at Sandhurst and so many others.”

MIDHURST Rother College was celebrating its strongest set of A-level results, with 31 per cent of grades at A*/A, up from 21 per cent last year, and 65 per cent awarded A*-B, up from 47 per cent last year.

George Caws, who got an A* and three As, is taking up a place at the University of Bath to read physics while Anja Blackwell, with two A*s and a B, will read music at Surrey University.

Ted Murray, who gained an A* and two As, will read medicine at Southampton University, and Mart Oomen, with two A* and two As, will read economics at the University of Bath.

Gemma Brownbill, who picked up an A*, A and a B, will read human biology at Exeter, while Liam Nicholson, who achieved four distinctions, will study a Higher National Diploma at Chichester College.

Head girl Erin Collins , who achieved an A*, an A and B, will read geography at Durham, but will take a year out after earning a place on an expedition to the North Pole, for which she is seeking sponsorship from local businesses and supporters.

College principal Stuart Edwards said: “I am delighted with the students’ results, which are the best Midhurst Rother College has achieved.

“This is testimony to their hard work and the commitment of the staff who worked so hard with them.

“Getting into a good university is the stepping stone for our students’ professional adult lives and it is excellent news that so many of our sixth form have done so.

“But I am equally pleased for those students whose grades are enabling them to take up apprenticeships and internships that will open the doors to their careers of choice.

“We want every student leaving Midhurst Rother College to be well prepared for whatever they go on to do next.

“Students leave here not only with strong academic results, but also well prepared for the challenges and opportunities of adult life.

CHARTERHOUSE was celebrating an excellent set of examination results with 93 per cent of Cambridge Pre-U examinations taken awarded distinction or merit grades.

Fifty-six pupils achieved distinctions, or their A-level equivalent, in all subjects taken, with 16 achieving the equivalent of A-level A* grades in their subjects and, of those, three achieving the absolute top grades available in the examinations they sat.

The IB Diploma programme results were strong, too, with 45 per cent gaining 37 points or more, a score good enough to gain offers on the vast majority of courses at Russell Group universities.

Deputy headmaster Simon Allen said: “I have been hugely impressed by the determined and committed approach shown by the pupils in preparing themselves for the examinations, and I am delighted for all of those who have secured places at one of their chosen institutions.”